Adsorption behavior of Cs(I) on natural soils: Batch experiments and model-based quantification of different adsorption sites

Understanding the adsorption behavior of radiocesium (RCs) in natural soils is crucial for remediation and evaluation of radioactive contaminated sites. In this study, we investigated the adsorption behavior of Cs(I) onto natural soils collected in Beijing by batch adsorption experiments and sequential extraction. A multi-site adsorption model was built to quantitatively analyze the adsorption capacities of soil clay minerals and predict of Cs(I) adsorption ratio of different adsorption sites. Linear programming calculations show that illite/smectite (I/S) mixture and illite (I) are the mainly clay mineral composition. Batch adsorption experiment results show that soils adsorption of Cesium ions is an exothermic process, and the order of influence of competitive cations on the competitive adsorption strength of Cs(I) is:K+>Mg2+approximate to Ca2+>Na+. HA (Humic Acid)has little effect on soil adsorption. SEM-EDS analysis shows that Cs+ is mainly distributed on the surface (PS) of soil particles. Based on the above results, the adsorption of Cs(I) onto clay minerals in soils is well predicts in both linear programming calculations and a multi-site adsorption model. The multi-site adsorption model can quantitatively describe and predict the adsorption behavior of Cs(I) on different clay sites in the soils. Frayed edge sites (FES) in the soil can effectively fix trace RCs. The higher concentration of cesium ions is mainly adsorbed on the PS and TBS. Sequential extraction experiment further proved the adsorption form of cesium in soil under trace and high concentration conditions.

Automated summary

The study investigated the adsorption behavior of Cs(I) onto natural soils collected in Beijing, revealing Illite/Smectite (I/S) and Illite (I) as the main clay mineral compositions. The adsorption of Cs(I) is an exothermic process, with the influence order of competitive cations on Cs(I) adsorption strength being K+ > Mg2+ ≈ Ca2+ > Na+. Humic acid has little effect on soil adsorption, and Cs+ is mainly distributed on the surface of soil particles.